The Food and Health Bureau today (May 28) convened the fourth meeting of the High-level Steering Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) (Steering Committee) to discuss the latest AMR situation and progress on relevant prevention and control measures in Hong Kong.
 
     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, said, "The Government launched the Hong Kong Strategy and Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2017-2022) (Action Plan) in July 2017, outlining the key areas and objectives to combat AMR. The Government departments and organisations concerned have initiated work to implement actions outlined in the Action Plan according to the timeframe laid down."
 
     Since the launch of the Action Plan, a series of public education programmes and surveillance activities have been implemented, including issuing Guidance Notes on Antibiotic Use pinpointing seven different types of diseases formulated by the Advisory Group on Antibiotics Stewardship Programme in Primary Care to primary healthcare workers, organising publicity campaigns to raise public awareness of the threat of AMR, and enhancing regulatory actions against illegal sale of antibitoics. There was an increase of 16.7 per cent of the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination uptake rate in the Government's vaccination programmes in the 2017/18 season compared with the 2016/17 season, which helped reduce the incidence of infection. To strengthen the collaboration and partnership among different stakeholders, the Government held the Regional Symposium on AMR in November 2018, with over 300 delegates from the Mainland, Denmark, Japan, Korea, Macao, the United Kingdom, the United States and Hong Kong exchanging their expertise and experiences in the control of AMR.
 
     "The first-ever territory-wide report on antibiotics supplied to various sectors based on the wholesale supply data between 2014 and 2016 compiled by the Government was published in April 2018. The second antibiotics supply surveillance report, to be released in June 2019, reveals that the overall supply of antibiotics in Hong Kong in 2017 has dropped by about 8.2 per cent when compared with 2016. Both the private doctors and community pharmacies were the main sectors contributing to the drop," Professor Chan said.
 
     At today's meeting, the Steering Committee reviewed the progress of actions taken according to the Action Plan, and evaluated the local situation of AMR by analysing the surveillance results. Members also discussed the framework of the mid-term review on the Action Plan. The relevant Government departments and organisations will actively follow up the Steering Committee's request to press forward with the implementation of the work under the Action Plan and report its progress to the Steering Committee regularly.
 
     "I appeal for concerted efforts of all sectors of the community in controlling AMR in Hong Kong. Different sectors, including human and veterinary medicine, agriculture, food, environment and pharmaceutical industry as well as consumers should take effective measures to combat the threat of AMR," added Professor Chan.
 
     Chaired by the Secretary for Food and Health, the Steering Committee was set up in May 2016 to call for collaboration, synergy and cross-fertilisation of all professional sectors under a "One Health" framework in response to AMR. It comprises representatives from relevant government departments, public and private hospitals, healthcare organisations, academia and relevant professional bodies.
 
     To combat AMR, members of the public should:
 
(1) Practise frequent hand hygiene, especially before eating and taking medicine, and after going to the toilet;
(2) Do not demand antibiotics from your doctor;
(3) Follow your doctor's advice when taking antibiotics;
(4) Do not stop taking antibiotics by yourselves even if you are feeling better;
(5) Ensure that vaccinations of you and your family members are up-to-date; and
(6) Maintain cough etiquette, wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms.

  

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the International Innovation and Technology Hub Forum – Nobel and Turing Laureates Hong Kong Summit this afternoon (May 28):
 
     I would like to welcome the Nobel and Turing laureates joining us this afternoon. A very warm welcome to you all, ladies and gentleman. Thank you for joining this forum, which is very important to the future development of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong SAR Government is very determined in developing the innovation and technology (I&T) sector. It is not just for economic development, which on its own is very important, but also for providing quality job opportunities for our young people. Over the past two years, we have committed over US$13 billion to develop the I&T sector.
 
     Biotech is one of the areas where we have a distinctive competitive advantage. Apart from putting in substantial resources, we have also rolled out a number of initiatives, one of which is to create a platform in the Science Park to attract top notch universities, research institutions and tech companies to come to Hong Kong to work with us, to work with our universities and companies. We will be assisting this platform not just with resources, but also with talent admission facilitation. We look forward to working with you to develop Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area as a world class innovation and technology hub. Thank you very much indeed.

    

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, at a media session as he wound up his duty visit to Beijing today (May 28):

Reporter: There are a lot of secondary school students issuing statements that are against the current amendment of the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance. What is the stance of the Education Bureau? Do you think you need to explain more to the secondary school students?
 
Secretary for Education: As I said, in the past few weeks the Security Bureau and also the Secretary for Justice have already explained a lot on the background of the amendments of the ordinance on many occasions. So I think it is necessary for all of us in Hong Kong to listen to all the views and to understand why the Government has proposed such changes before they form a view on whether they support the amendment or not. In the recent movement of some past students of some schools, out of their own initiatives they have started some signature campaigns. Some of the schools have actually contacted us and told us that that did not represent the schools' position. But in any case, if the schools feel, for example, that they need our support in explaining in more detail about the proposed amendments, we are happy to do it.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

    

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (May 28) investigating a case of measles infection.
 
     The case involves a 32-year-old man with good past health, who has developed fever and runny nose since May 23 and rash since May 25. He sought medical advice from a general practitioner on May 26 and was referred to the Accident and Emergency Department at Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment and admission on the same day.
 
     A laboratory test of his respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. He has been in a stable condition all along. The patient had received two doses of measles vaccination. He had no travel history during the incubation period and the communicable period.
 
     According to the patient, he did not have contact with measles patients during the incubation period. His home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far and have been put under medical surveillance.
 
     Upon notification of the case, the CHP immediately commenced epidemiological investigations and conducted relevant contact tracing. Investigations are ongoing. The public places the patient visited during the communicable period are listed in the appendix.
   
     A spokesman for the DH said, "Those who might have had contact with the patient during the period of communicability are urged to observe if they have developed measles-related symptoms, and to seek medical treatment immediately if such symptoms appear. If they need to visit any health care facilities during the period of medical surveillance, they should also report whether they have symptoms and prior measles exposure history to the healthcare workers so that appropriate infection control measures can be implemented at the healthcare facilities concerned to prevent any potential spread."
     
     The spokesman explained that measles is a highly infectious disease caused by the measles virus. It can be transmitted by airborne droplets or direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected persons, and, less commonly, by articles soiled with nose and throat secretions. A patient can pass the disease to other persons from four days before to four days after the appearance of skin rash.
 
     "The incubation period (the period from infection to appearance of illness) of measles ranges from seven days to 21 days. Symptoms of measles include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If symptoms arise, members of the public should wear surgical masks, stop going to work or school and avoid going to crowded places. They should also avoid contact with non-immune persons, especially persons with weakened immunity, pregnant women and children aged below 1. Those suspected to have been infected are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible and reveal relevant contact history of measles to healthcare professionals," the spokesman advised.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The spokesperson of Kowloon Hospital (KH) made the following announcement today (May 28):
 
     Four patients aged 82 to 87 in a female rehabilitation ward have presented with symptoms of skin infection since May 18. All of the patients have been diagnosed as having scabies infestation and are being treated under isolation. They are in a stable condition.
       
     Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.
 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.